13 He has rescued a us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom b of the Son c He loves. d 14 We have * redemption, e the forgiveness of sins, in Him.

The Centrality of Christ

15 He is the image of the invisible God, f

the firstborn over all creation. g h

16 For everything was created by Him, i

in heaven and on earth,

the visible and the invisible,

whether thrones or dominions

or rulers or authorities—

all things have been created through Him and for Him. j

17 He is before all things, k

and by Him all things l hold together.

18 He is also the head of the body, the church;

He is the beginning, m

the firstborn from the dead, n

so that He might come to have

first place in everything.

19 For God was pleased to have

all His fullness o dwell in Him, p

20 and through Him to reconcile

everything to Himself

by making peace q

through the blood r of His cross s t—

whether things on earth or things in heaven.

21 Once you were alienated and hostile in your minds because of your evil actions. 22 But now He has reconciled you by His physical body u through His death, v to present you holy, faultless, w and blameless before Him x—